The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-18


loss what 20 say OF to do next Henry was
obliged TO speak 10 her, Put your questions
while YOU have the chance. he said. lowering
ii. voice. "See. the vacant look l. coming
over her face again
Agnes tried 70 rally her courage. You
we're in my room last night she began.
BEFORE She could add a word more the count
- lifted her hands and wrung them above
Der head, with low moan OF horror. Agnes
.brunk back. and turned as If 10 leave the
-oom. Henry stopped her and Whispers 10
nor 10 try acain. She obeyed him after an
.nort. Il slept last night IN the room mat
you gave up 70 me- She resumed Il
| .aw'-
The countess suddenly rose 70 her feet.
No more Of that she cried. "On, Jesu
Maria Doyou think wan, TO be told what
gou saw DO you think | don't know what
means for YOU and Tor nei Decide for
Yourself. mis-. Examine your own mind.
Are YOU well assured that the day Of reckon
ns has come at last, Are you ready to fol-
ow me back, through the crimes OF she past,
20 the secrets Of the dead"
She turned again 10 the writing table, With
ont waiting 20 be answered Her Eyes flashed.
she looked like her old self once more as she
poke IL was only for a moment. TIE old
ardor and impetuosity were nearly worn out.
Her bead sunk. she sighed heavily as she un-
ocked a desk which stood on the table.
Jpening a drawer m the desk, She took out
eat OF yellum. covered with faded writing.
Some ragged ends Of silken thread were still
attached 70 the leaf, n II e had been torn out
IF book.
Can YOU read ltalianr she asked. handing
he leaf to Agnes
Agnes answered silently by an inclination
/ II the head
The leaf. the countess proceeded, 'once
| oelonced % a book in the old library Of the
palace. while this building was still palace.
| By whom % was torn out YOU have no need
0 know For what purpose 10 was torn out
,0u may discover for Yourself, II YOU Will
! Read DO iir-t-at the fifth line from the top Of
/ le page
Agnes felt tle serious necessity - compos-
ny herself Give me chair, She said 90
lenrv, -anl viii DO my best He placed
himself behind her chair so that be could look
over Der shoslder ami b,lp her To- understand
he writing 600 tine leaf Rendered into Eng
isl. 10 rau "a, follows:
Il have now completed nay literary survey
1f the first floor of the palace. 40 the desire
] # inv noble and cracils. patron the lord ~
his Clor,u. clifce. : next ascend t0 the
second f00r and continue my catalogue
.r description az me picture, docora-
ions. AND other treasures of arr therein
ontamei Iet me heen with the corner
.oom 40 tle western extremity Of the palace,
'aiiei tle Room az the Cayatides. from tle
statues which support the mautelpece This
work D. ol comparatively recent execution. it
latos from the Eighteenth century only. aui
reveal. tlc corrupt taste of the peuod DID
very part of it Stll, there /. a certain in-
crest which attaches e the manteIpece. .f
,onceals a cevcrly constructed hiding place
between the floor of the room and the ceiling
II the room beneath, which vas made during
he last evil days of the luQuIsition in Venice,
lnd which Is reported 60 have saved an ances
.or OF my gracious lord pursued by that
.errible tribunal The machinery ~ this
curious place II ooncealment has been kept iu
good order by tine present lord, a. a species Of
curiosity He c0ndesctndei 90 snow me the
method Of working it Approaching the two
Caryatides, rest your hand on the forehead
midway between the eyebrows Of the figure
which is on your LETT as you stand opposite 10
.he fireplace. then press the head inward as 10
you were pushing it against the wall behind.
by doing this you SCI in motion the hidden
machinery in the wall which turns the hearth
s0ne on pivot and di,clO,es the hollow place
below There is room enough in it for a man
,o Die easily 40 fnll length The method OF
io-ing the cavity again De- equally -lrsYIe.
Place both Your hands ou the temples of the
igure pull as 10 sou were pulling 10 toward
y0u-lnl the heartlstoHe Wlll rCyolvg into its
proper position again.
-Nou ncei read no further sail the
COUNTIES. "Be careful o. remember what y0u
have read
sleput bark The page of ve.lam in Der
writing l,,k i,-,Aed B. and led tlo way Go tue
loor
"C0me she said. and see what the mock
hg Freuclmau called The beginning ol the
eud
Agnes was barely abe 20 rise from her
chair. size trembled from head 20 foot Henry
gave her li, arm 20 support her. Fear
nothing. b. whispered. 81 shall be with
you
The countess proceeded along The westward
corridor and stopped 40 the door numbered
Inrty-e.ght This was tie room which had
heen inhabited by Baron kvar ia the old
DAYS Of the palace. the room situated immedi.
atciy over the bed chamber la which Agnes
bad passed the night For the last two days
i had been empty The absence Of luggage
in 10 when they opened the door showed that
% had not yer been let
"You see, said the countess pointing u
the carved figure az the fire place aud you
know what o. DO Have deserved that you
should temper justice with mercyf she Went
on. 10 lower tones. Give me few hours
more 70 myself The baron wants money!
must get on with my play
She smiled vacanuy. and initiated the ac-
lion of writing with her right band A. she
pronounced the last words The Effort u
concentrating her weakened mind on other
and le-. familiar topics than the constant
want o. money in the har0ns lifetime and
he vague prospect OF gain from the still uu-
finished play. had evidently exhausted her
no0r reserves of strength. When her request
lal been granted she addressed Do expressions
% gratitude O. Agnes; she only said. Feel
100 fear miss, Of my attempting % escape
sou. Where You are, there / must be- al